Deshaun Watson got hostile reception from Browns fans at camp

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Deshaun Watson got hostile reception from Browns fans at camp

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Aug 4, 2026 5:35 PM ET

Deshaun Watson has not even taken the field in a game situation this season, but he is already getting a reminder that Cleveland Browns fans do not particularly like him.

The Browns held one of their open practices Tuesday during training camp in Berea, Oh., and both Watson and fellow quarterback Shedeur Sanders got some reps in. Watson, however, was a lot less popular.

According to Noah Olson of SINow, Watson even got booed at one point.

Watson currently being boo’ed by Browns fans. #DawgPound
— Noah Olson (@Noaholson77) August 4, 2026

Reports largely indicated that the defense was well ahead of the offense on Tuesday, and that was not solely down to Watson.

First session of 11-on-11s firmly dominated by the defense and the defensive line specifically. Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel all took snaps, and each had dropbacks that likely end in sacks.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) August 4, 2026

Watson has a lot of work to do if he ever wants to get on the good side of Cleveland fans. This is, after all, a fanbase that could be heard cheering when the quarterback suffered a significant injury during a game two years ago.

Thus far, Watson has been a very expensive mistake for the Browns. He signed a fully-guaranteed 5-year, $230 million deal with the team after being traded there in 2022, but has been hurt a lot and performed very poorly when he was actually on the field. Despite that, he may have the inside track on being the team’s Week 1 starter now that he is healthy again.

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